“Just be yourself, Ms. Williams. Talk to him, hold him if you’d like. I know this is overwhelming, but you’re doing the right thing by being here.”
She started walking toward the building, and we fell into step beside her. “Before we go in, I should mention that Mr. Briggs will also have visitation tomorrow morning. I wanted you to know so there are no surprises at the hearing.”
My stomach flipped at the thought. I’d seen the cruel side of that man, and thinking my innocent little nephew in his hands terrified me. “Will he come here too?”
“Yes, the Hendersons will bring him here for Mr. Briggs’s visit. Things will be a bit stricter for him, and we’ll have an officer present.”
I almost wanted to hug her. At least someone would be present if Colter tried anything.
We reached the door, and Ms. Chen led us through a lobby area to a smaller room.
“This is one of our family visit rooms,” she explained. “It’s more comfortable than my office, and we have some toys and baby items here.”
A woman was waiting inside with Elias. “Hi. I’m Pam Henderson, his foster mom.”
“Hi, Pam. Thank you for bringing him here,” I said.
“Absolutely. He is such a sweet baby.” She chuckled. “Well, all babies are, but really, he is such a good baby.” She lifted Elias from his carrier and turned toward me.
My lungs burned and my chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. All I could do was stare. He looked exactly like my sister… except for the shock of red hair covering his head.
“Are you okay?” asked Ms. Chen.
I gave a short nod. “Yeah, he’s just… so beautiful.”
Tears were pouring down my cheeks. My feet were moving before my brain registered it. The second he was cradled in my arms, every question, every reservation I had… was gone.
I knew right then and there, Elias was mine. The immediate flood of love and joy… the protectiveness I had was overwhelming. I would kill for this baby, bare-handed, with a smile on my face, a song in my heart, and I’d dance on their grave when I got out of prison.
Elias wasmybaby. I was his mother. End of discussion.
“Hi,” I said softly. “I’m your Aunt Cora.”
He cooed and gurgled.
I laughed at the sheer cuteness.
“He’s beautiful, Cora,” Jason said. “Amazing.”
I looked up at him. “Isn’t he? He looks just like my sister. Except for the hair.”
“I’m guessing he got that from Colter.” He slid his finger into Elias’s hand. His fingers clamped down, and he cooed again.
I chuckled. “I think he likes you.”
Elias yawned, and I shifted him in my arms.
“You can sit down if you’d like,” Ms. Chen said and motioned to a rocker in the corner.
I crossed the small distance and sat with Elias.
“You are so cute, but I bet you know that, huh?”
He wiggled a little and stretched.
“He’s really taking to you well,” Pam said.
I looked at her. “Really?”
